Vernon ultra athlete Shanda Hill tests her endurance, again, in gruelling race

VERNON – Ultra marathon veteran Shanda Hill from Vernon is jumping right into her next test of endurance after completing a 2,260-kilometre race in Switzerland just over a month ago.

The 35-year-old athlete is in Virginia competing in the Triple Anvil, featuring a 12-kilometre swim, 540- kilometre bike ride and 126-kilometre run, all to be completed within 60 hours.

Hill is no stranger to the course, she finished first among women and fifth overall in Virginia's Quintuple Anvil last year.

That race is even longer, including a 900-kilometre ride, 210-kilometre run and 19-kilometre swim.

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She reached her most extreme achievement in August when she took on the Deca Ultra Triathlon in Switzerland, becoming only the sixth woman ever to complete the 38-kilometre swim, 1,800-kilometre ride and 422-kilometre run.

Hill says the 60-hour time limit in the Virginia event leaves little opportunity for sleep, adding that many things can go wrong in a race that long.

She says the early start to the Triple Anvil is tough because she hates getting into her wetsuit before the sun rises over a cold lake, so she takes that leg easy before powering through the bike ride and run.

"I love the challenge. As much as I love the racing, I love the people. If it was just the race and we didn't have the unique people out here, I don't think it would be half as fun."